Startup Story

Leila Kigha is the founder and ceo of the KARA Group of Companies in Cameroon. She is a seasoned journalist turned entrepreneur on a mission to help women embrace their authentic selves so that they can show up and impact the world confidently. The Kara Group of Companies is an expression of her love and passion for helping women build legacy brands, the African print and shoes. The brand was born five years ago and is steadily growing and looks forward to employing and empowering more women from the local communities. She has over 15 years’ experience as a broadcast journalist, PR person and event organizer.

LoA spoke to founder Leila Kigha this month to learn more about this mission-driven business.

What does your company do?

Kara Communications focuses on helping female professionals and creators become the leader in their industry, building a profitable business based around expertise, experience, personality, and a thirst for serving others. We do this via, coaching programs, courses, digital products, and conferences. House of Kara produces footwear and other accessories that feature a strong touch of Cameroonian culture via prints with undertones of modern, western design influences.

What inspired you to start your company?

I started my entrepreneurial journey as a passionate amateur fashion accessory designer while I was working as a tv and radio journalist (trained journalist) and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing! All I knew was that I wanted to have a side hustle because I couldn't make ends meet with my job alone. I made clothing and accessories for my sisters, eventually most of their friends and that's how it grew. Back then refurbishing old shoes with African fabrics was becoming popular all over Africa. I experimented with local manufacturers and designers and refurbished shoes and bags for many clients.

When I finally left my job in 2010 after I got very sick from the stress and overwhelm at my workplace and cancelled my visa to UK, my side hustle was all I had because I left my job without a plan. I knew I had to work to grow this side hustle to a business so I got small freelance writing jobs to save money, and this is how I discovered and fell in love with branding and design. It has always been my dream to empower women to embrace their unique gifts and show up confidently but I didn't know how I could do this effectively. A call from a friend to write an article, was what set the machine in motion and since then, we started with a personal branding agency, then a fashion accessory business, the dream has been taking form slowly but steadily.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

Our core strength lies in the high quality of our products and services, the power of our team and our story. Though we cannot employ as many full-time staff as would desire, we contract and work with a team of highly trained and experienced designers, marketers, lawyers, and support staff members that go all the way to deliver premium quality. We are well-positioned in the heart of Douala, and we have attracted so far loads of clients from the first day we opened our business. Our products and services are unique and of good quality and we are constantly researching and innovating.

Tell us a little about your team

Our brand is organized and run by a small team we call the fantastic four.
We have all known each other for many years now and each bring unique skills into the business that will provide valuable insights and success in the future. However, some tasks like accounting, taxes, marketing etc. are outsourced to professional agencies on a need to basis.

The Chief Executive Officer comes in with her experience in setting up and establishing media establishments and building teams. She is in charge of making major decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the company.

The Administrative Assistant/ office manager, is a hardworking and creative individual who is responsible for inventory management, advertising, marketing, and managing cashier and sales staff, as well as day-to-day operations within the company. She oversees the company’s business operations.

The Chief Product Officer / Project Manager is a strategic leader, visionary, team supervisor, and the main advocate of our organization’s products and services. She is in charge of initiatives across the entire product lifecycle — from customer discovery and user research to development and delivery. She comes in with her young, innovative, fresh perspective and experience of the fashion industry.

The Legal Adviser is there to ensure we never go astray. Ensuring we do everything by the books and recommending what processes to engage in and when to avoid legal issues in the future - from labor contracts to intellectual property, to work permits, to trade laws, tax laws etc., we are kept abreast on the changes and requirements.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I started my entrepreneurial journey as a passionate amateur fashion accessory designer while I was working as a tv, and radio journalist (trained journalist) and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing! All I knew was that I wanted to have a side hustle because I couldn't make ends meet with my job alone. When I finally left my job in 2010 after I got very sick from the stress and overwhelm at my workplace, cancelled my visa to the UK, my side hustle was all I had because I left my job without a plan. (Don't do this!)

I made clothing and accessories for my sisters, eventually most of their friends and that's how it grew. Back then refurbishing old shoes with African fabrics was becoming popular all over Africa. I experimented with local manufacturers and designers and refurbished shoes and bags for many clients but there was one recurring issue; they didn't last long because of the quality. Fueled by the desire to serve quality products, I embarked on research on how to manufacture my shoes. With the help of my very good friend, I got quotes from manufacturers and we came up with a business and financial plan. Guess what? I didn't have that kind of money (over $5000). I was at crossroads ... Again! I knew I had to work to grow this from a side hustle to a business, so I got small freelance writing jobs, and this is how I discovered and fell in love with branding and design. It has always been my dream to empower women to embrace their unique gifts and show up confidently, but I didn't know how I could do this effectively. I come from a lineage of women who empower others.

I was contacted by a dear friend to write an article for her Ghana-based magazine of the top 50 women in my country. With my background in journalism, I already knew quite a several women I could write about but when I began researching, I found nothing about them on the internet. In disappointment, I came back to my friend with just a few and told her it is so unbelievable that such women with potential and track records have no information on a lie and she told me, and I quote "personal branding in this country is non-existent"

Those words hit me like a fresh revelation from the heart of the Father!
Before that moment, I had never heard of Personal Branding. I Immediately went to Google and began searching. To cut it short - from 2014- 2016, I received training and mentorship from some of the top pioneering women in the profession. This is where the puzzle began coming together, my passion for shoes and the African print and my love for helping women. I knew these were the tools I needed to carry out my mission.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

We have some long term and short term plans for the brand:

Financial: We look forward to attaining 3% profit increase within the next 5years.

Operational: We are looking forward to expanding our fashion accessory supply to major retail shops in Cameroon and Africa in the next 3 years. By 2027 we intend to set up our local manufacturing plant.

Customer focused: We will be expanding our customer base to include men and possibly children by the end of 2025.

Team-building: Recruit more competent full time staff or the brand.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

The transformation my clients, team and I get. It is a two way thing, each client who leaves our offices with a smile and a sigh of relief gives me great joy. This also contributes to my growth and self-confidence as a person.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

In a world where everyone is trying to make you something you are not, just be yourself and give yourself permission to take a seat at the table and start sharing that special gift that only you can bring to the world.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | EMAIL info@houseofkara.store

Why LoA loves it….

At Lionesses of Africa, we love to share the stories of tenacious, resilient women entrepreneurs who harness their skills, passion and their desire to empower others, to be the basis of their businesses. In the case of Leila Kigha, she wanted to find a way to empower and inspire other women to help them to live their best lives, whilst at the same time, fuelling her own creativity in business. Today, she is taking all her experience and specialist expertise and is building a group of companies that allows her to fulfill both of her aspirations and her overall mission. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa